BikeMi - Milan's Bike Rental Service
Navigating Milan by car can be difficult, particularly in the city center and within the congestion charge zone, Area C, due to the various restrictions in place. That's why it's worth considering public transportation options, like trams and the metro. Another great alternative is using a bicycle, made convenient by Milan’s BikeMi bike rental system.
What is Bikemi and How does it work?
BikeMi is a bike-sharing service managed by the Municipality of Milan and integrated into the ATM public transportation network. It’s a simple and efficient service designed to make urban travel easier and to promote a healthy and eco-friendly lifestyle.
Launched in 2008, BikeMi quickly became popular among Milanese residents. The service further evolved in 2015, with the introduction of electric pedal-assisted bicycles, catering to the needs of a diverse range of users.
Today, BikeMi offers 325 stations strategically located across the city of Milan, providing over 5,000 bicycles that are available every day of the year, from 6:00 AM to 2:00 AM. Users can choose from 4,280 traditional bicycles, 1,000 electric pedal-assisted bikes, and 150 pedal-assisted bikes with child seats.
Where and How to Find BikeMi Bicycles
You’ll find plenty of bikes scattered across the city, all easily accessible at any of the 325 stations. Finding a station is easy—simply consult the map in the BikeMi website or app. The map is interactive and shows in real time the location of stations and availability of bikes.
Here is an image of the map. The black dots are BikeMi stations.
Stations are easy to spot, with metal racks where bikes are stored and returned. The bikes themselves stand out with their orange or green color and prominently displayed BikeMi logo. Additionally, there are "virtual" stations, which don't have a physical platform for bike storage or pickup. Instead, these stations are designated areas where bikes, marked in red, can be rented or returned.
Every BikeMi bicycle is equipped with a fixed chain and lock, which can be found under the front basket.
The Cost of the Service
The cost of using BikeMi includes a subscription fee and additional usage charges.
Subscription Options:
- Daily: €4.50 for 24 hours from the first rental.
- Weekly: €9 for 7 days from the first rental.
- Annual: €36, renewing every 365 days from the first rental (€27 for ATM annual pass holders).
Usage Charges:
Usage charges are applied in addition to the subscription fee, and vary based on the duration of use and the type of bike selected.
Traditional Bicycle:
- Unlocking the Bicycle: Included in the subscription
- 0 – 30 min: Included in the subscription
- 30 min – 2 hours: €0.50 / 30 min
- 2 hours – 24 hours: €2 / 60 min
Electric Bicycle with or without a child seat:
- Unlock: Included in the subscription
- 0 – 3 min: Included in the subscription
- 3 min – 30 min: €0.25 / 27 min
- 30 min – 60 min: €0.50 / 30 min
- 60 min – 1 hour 30 min: €1 / 30 min
- 1 hour 30 min – 2 hours: €2 / 30 min
- 2 hours – 24 hours: €4 / 60 min
You can use the rented bike for up to two consecutive hours. After that, a penalty will be applied, and after three penalties, your subscription will be automatically blocked. If you use the bike for 24 consecutive hours, a substantial penalty will be imposed, and your subscription will be immediately terminated.
Payments can be made with only with VISA, Mastercard, or American Express credit or prepaid cards. Debit cards are not accepted.
How to Use the Bikemi Service
To use the service, you need an ATM card or the BikeMi app on your smartphone. You will also need to purchase a subscription. You can purchase a daily, weekly or a monthly subscription. If you’re using an ATM card, you’ll need to link it to the subscription. Once you’ve bought a subscription, you’ll need to create a profile on the website or app, which the subscription will be linked to.
Each BikeMi subscription must be associated with a single mobile phone number, which will be used to access the service. Note that the service is only available to users aged 14 and older. Those between 14 and 18 years old must have permission from their parents or legal guardians.
To rent a bike, open the app on your smartphone. When you’re near a station, activate your location and select the "unlock" option. The app will show you the stall number, indicating the specific location of the bike you can pick up.
If you have an ATM card linked to your BikeMi subscription, hold the card up to the station reader, then choose the type of bike you want to use: traditional, electric pedal-assisted, or electric pedal-assisted with a child seat.
After unlocking the bike, you have 30 seconds to take it. If you don’t do so within this time slot, the stall will automatically re-lock. You can try to unlock the bike again immediately after. If you take the bike but later notice a defect, such as a flat tire, reattach it to the rack within three minutes to rent another bike right away. If you miss this three-minute window, you’ll need to wait the standard five minutes between rentals.
Returning a Bike
To return the bike, go to any BikeMi station in the city. When you arrive at the station lock the bike to the rack by following these steps:
- Check that the light corresponding to the stall you’ve chosen is green.
- Lift the bike by the grips and insert the pegs under the basket into the appropriate holes.
- Ensure that the bike is securely locked.
To ensure everything is in order, check the app, which will display a confirmation message once the bike has been successfully returned.
To return a red bike at a virtual station, simply go to the designated area and follow the instructions on the app.
Now that you know the ins and outs of Milan's BikeMi bike rental service, you can hop on a bike and experience Milan like a true cyclist!